The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-07-20
y slight nIisunuors,a ndiny.

of those feminine charms calculated to
attract s~uitors, and there were indica.
lions that slle would die an old maid il
her life was spared. How to secure Il
husband for her was the great problem
III the mind Of Mrs. d. (which she was
continually revolving indignant, some
times, that her husband seemed to give
himself no concern about it.
But q grave subject m%onopollzed tho
thoughts Of Mr.. u. lie contemplated
building q new barn that should eclipse
any that his neighbors possessed. lie
had thought to be the architect Of his
own barn rs lie had been OF his OWE
fortunc,, and had drawn up and torn up,
innumerablo plans for it. But nothing
he could devise afforded satisfaction.
One evening MI. and Mrs. Bumble--
thorp snt together in their snug little
sitting-room. Mi. BIS thoughts were
on the barn, as usual, and Mrs. B. was.
thinking Of her daughter and the war.
mess Of suitors.
At length Dumblethorp sprang to his
feet and exclaimed abruptly
"By George, l believe I will adyer-
tise for proposals"
Advertise for proposals ~ cried
Mrs. b., struck I'LL Of q heap, us she
afterwards expressed it 'why, Bum
blethorp, what would tho neighbors say
TO that 7"
"Say, my dcar2 No matter what
they say. It's none Of their business,
anyhow. Besides, it's not ut all IN
usual. Such things are done every
day.
Eyes" said Mrs. b., thcugltfully.
GIVE seen advertisements of that Kind
in the papers," and she picked up Il
paper to see if her eye would fall upon
one, 'but folks do not sign their real
names, do theyb Something like tn s
would be better "a young man of
good family and steady habits can hear
OF something to his advantage by adj
dressing, Mother-in-law.'n
"Mother-in-law Fiddlcsticks You
don't know what you are talking about.
| shall sign my " name. Them fell
lcrs know who Caleb BumbIethorp is,
l reckon"
"Them f%cllers, Mr.. BumDlethorp -
Eyes, the fellers that we want to J,
reach. Moneys what they're after,
you know, and they'll send in their pro
posals by tho next mail"
"IIow many-er--proposals do YOU
think we'll get ?" asked Mrs. b., who
began to see an opportunity for making
an eligible selection, though she didn't
quite like that way Of doing the bust
ness.
"a dozen like as not. But the more
the merrier. I shall ask for plans and
specifications Of course, before selecting
one"
"Plans and specifications ~ cxclaim-
ed Mrs. b., more and moro beWildered.
"That's what I said. We must have
plans mustn't we 2"
"Of COURSE" assentcd Mrs. b., who
had been doing nothing else but reYoly-
ing plans for several years back.
"ln the first place." continued Mr..
b., there must be q good solid foul-
dation.o
"You mean pedigree"
"N0w you are thinking about TIC
stable, but we will consider that after
wards. The next thing desirable is Il
good, strong frame. | shall insist on a
strong frame, and it must be thorough
~ braccd up"
"But / thought you didn't believe in
bracing up" said Mrs b.. quite shock
cd at such q radical change OF senti-
ment on tho part Of her husband, who
was an u%nbcnding, total abstinence
man.
"Mlrs. b., 7 don't see what you are
thinking Of. a brace here and there
is absolutely necessary, and II man who
knows his business Will put it in"
Perhaps - perhaps you mean en-
brace" said Mrs. b., ~coloring a little.
embrace ~ echoed Is. with some
surprise. Then he added testify, ''See
here, mother, 1 don't want any OF your
weak puns vel the business. This
comes Of reading them funny papers.n
Mrs. j. rested silent and abaShed.
After some moments reflection he re-